SAN DIEGO, California - The Pivotal Day two at the Surf College Cup brought about the best and worst of its competitors Saturday.

Looking to secure their place in Sunday’s semifinals things were intense. And testy; and comical - all at once.

It was a difficult day to be referee at the Polo Grounds, particularly on the boys side. When the U17 West Coast FC Premier boys met U17 Santa Clara Sporting it was a match that would determine Bracket C and thus a guaranteed spot in the semis. Both teams played like it, and it was almost literally a fight to the finish.

Somehow, West Coast’s Dylan Seedman was the only player who ended up with a red card, but yellows were passed out like roster sheets as players were sprawled all over the field after contact and encounters. Santa Clara maintained to the referees that West Coast were “floppers” and West Coast said that Santa Clara were the agressors.

Either way, it wasn’t a pretty scene, and thankfully it lacked one seminal moment that could’ve caused things to boil over.

“I have to say that this match was a little over the head of the referees,” said West Coast coach Braden Cloutier. “When the referees don’t control the game the kids get jacked up, the parents get into it and it could’ve degenerated. Luckily, in the end we managed to hold it together.”

Oh yeah, about the results: Lucas Dall'orso headed in a cross on a set piece in the first half and West Coast fended off their dangerous opponents to win 1-0 and capture Bracket C over Santa Clara by a single point.

Santa Clara advanced to the semis anyway as a wild card, keeping alive the possibility that these teams could meet in the final.

Saturday’s match was the second time the teams have played recently, with West Coast winning both. In this one, Santa Clara created chance after chance but couldn’t execute in the final third. Juan Robles, Sebastian Zuniga, Carlos Gonzalez and David Flores were a few of the standouts for Santa Clara, who has attackers throughout the entire roster.

“They’re one of the best teams in California,” Cloutier said. “They’re a very physical team and we luckily were able to get behind the ball and hold them off. My hats off to them, they’re the toughest competition we’ve faced yet.”

In more ways than one.

THE MATCHUPS ARE IN

Here are Sunday’s semifinal matchups:

Girls U17 Super Division
So Cal Blues Dodge vs. Slammers FC G92
Santa Clarita United BLAZ vs. Real So Cal White

Girls U16 Super Division
San Diego Surf White vs. Slammers FC 93
San Diego Surf Blue vs. Santa Clara Sporting

Boys U17 Super Division     
FC San Diego vs. Santa Clara Sporting
South Bay Force vs. West Coast FC Premier

Boys U16 Super Division
Sereno 94 Boys White vs. Westside Metros Premier
Slammers FC 93 vs. West Coast FC

PLAYERS AND OBSERVATIONS            

- A few games essentially served as a bracket championship, determining who would move on with the semifinal bid:   

- The U16 Slammers FC 93 girls punched their ticket with a 2-1 victory over Sereno 94 Girls White. Makenzy Doniak had a strong game up top for the Slammers who used an early own goal from Sereno to move on.

- U17 FC San Diego Gold Quinn boys were tied atop Bracket A with Real So Cal White but got some separation with a 1-0 win. Captain Sergio Lopez ran in behind the penetration of teammate Lundon Attisha and volleyed in a rebounded shot attempt. Gustavo Diaz had another solid game for San Diego and has been one of the top players this weekend.

- U16 West Coast FC and Players SC 94 played for the bracket title and the explosive match ended with both teams restraining one another from a potential clash, and even a livid parent being held back on the sidelines. West Coast won 2-1.

- Mia Hamm managed to quietly occupy the Slammers FC U17 girls’ bench with no fanfare. She is a part of the coaching staff, having played for the club as a youngster, and she has deftly managed to stay out of the spotlight, preferring to deflect any attention to the club.